JobsAdvocate Health

Radiation Therapist

Advocate Health · Elgin, IL

Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you caught an error before it reached the patient, or a time an error happened during treatment. What did you do?

honesty and follow-through on error reporting culture, since the job explicitly requires reporting all errors to the supervisor

Tell me about a time you had to explain a difficult side effect or prognosis-related concern to a patient or family member.

empathy and communication skill with a population that is frequently frightened or in distress

Have you supervised or trained radiation therapy students? What did you focus on when watching them do a setup?

whether they can teach and enforce safety standards for someone less experienced, since the role includes supervising students at all times

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a coworker, maybe a dosimetrist or another therapist, about how to handle a setup or a scheduling issue. How did you resolve it?

teamwork and conflict resolution given the explicit requirement to work well as part of a team

Technical

Walk me through how you set up a patient for daily treatment and make sure the setup matches the treatment chart exactly.

whether the candidate follows a consistent, safe reproducibility process rather than relying on memory or shortcuts

How do you use OBI, on board imaging, to verify field size and patient position before you deliver a treatment?

hands-on familiarity with the specific imaging tool named in the posting, not just general IGRT knowledge

Describe how you'd perform and document a daily and weekly QA check on the treatment machine.

whether the candidate actually knows the mechanics of machine QA, not just that it's required

How do you record and calculate dose addition on a daily basis, and what do you double check before signing off?

attention to detail on cumulative dose tracking, where a mistake compounds over the treatment course

How comfortable are you with the IMPAC electronic charting system, or similar record and verify systems, for documenting variations in daily treatment?

real experience with electronic charting and accurate documentation, since billing and statistics depend on it

Situational

A patient's setup looks slightly different from yesterday, maybe a small shift in skin marks or a weight change. What do you do before starting treatment?

judgment about when to treat, when to pause, and when to escalate a variation to the supervisor or physician

You notice the machine is making an unusual sound or the output seems off partway through the day's schedule. Walk me through what you do next.

whether they stop treatment appropriately and escalate to the service engineer or supervisor instead of pushing through

A patient tells you about a symptom that sounds more serious than a typical side effect the radiation oncologist already discussed. What do you do?

knowing the boundary of their role and when to refer to nursing or the physician rather than reassure on their own

This is a per diem role covering a Monday through Friday clinic. How do you handle stepping into a routine you didn't build, on a schedule that may change week to week?

adaptability and ability to integrate quickly into an existing team without full-time continuity

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: Status: Benefits Eligible: No Hou rs Per Week: 0 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Pay Range: $41.10 - $61.65 Location : Advocate Sherman Hospital - 1425 N Randall Rd Hours : This is a per diem role; the clinic is open Monday-Friday. Closed on all major holidays. Shift : 1st shift - Days Major Responsibilities: • Administers Radiation Therapy treatments in compliance with physician prescription and treatment plan. • Is able to reproduce setup in the treatment room as indicated in treatment chart utilizing appropriate positioning aides. • Maintains visual and audible contact with patients at all times. • Reports all errors to the Supervisor, Radiation Oncology. • Reports all pertinent information regarding patient care to supervisor, Radiation Oncology. • Maintains accurate treatment records. • Accurately records any variation in the daily treatment in the IMPAC management system (electronic chart). • Assures the proper billing and statistics are done with each patient treatment. • Assures that dose addition is accurate on a daily basis. • Assists the physician in localizing tumor volumes using radiographic techniques. • Measures and records parameters for reproducibility of setup. • Performs planning CT's that are to the exact specification directed by the physician • Utilizes treatment aides or immobilization devices per Radiation Oncology. • Creates an electronic patient chart according to Radiation Oncology standards and current practice/procedure.) Utilizes "OBI" (On Board Imaging) for imaging and field size verification. • Computes dose calculations utilizing treatment parameters and data according to departmental standards for emergency patients. • Interprets computer plans and adapts them for usage in the treatment room • Performs and records daily and weekly QA machine checks. • Observes and reports any malfunction or operational problem to the Service Engineer or Supervisor. • Assures that checks are being done as scheduled per departmental and state requirements. • Participates in the early morning warm-up program. • Assists in the orientation and education of patients regarding treatments and side effects. • Reinforces Radiation Oncologist and nurse’s advice regarding side effects. • Reports any unusual side effects to Nursing and/or Radiation Oncologist. • Facilitates patient and family participation in self-care based on age and disease. • Refers patients to Nursing and/or Radiation Oncologist if problem is identified. • Explains procedure to be performed to patient. • Instructs and supervises Radiation Therapy students while training at facility. • Instructs students on the safe usage of equipment according to departmental standards and procedures. • Supervises students at ALL times during treatment setup and simulation. • Evaluates students on performance in a timely fashion as requested by Education Director. • Assures a safe, clean and sanitary environment for patients and personnel. • Routinely cleans patient treatment area. • Routinely cleans patient positioning supplies. • Appearance and uniform complies with departmental standard. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • ARRT registry-eligible or ARRT license • IDNS license. • BLS Certified Education/Experience Required: • Radiation Oncology Certificate and/or Associates degree in Radiation Therapy Technology. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Developing ability to work as a team player. • Developing ability to work with ill patients and families in an empathetic fashion. • Computer knowledge. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: This position requires heavy lifting of equipment and patients. Must be able to lift 20lbs. repeatedly. Standard precautions for dealing with body substances and hazardous materials. Standard precautions for radiation safety as per IDNS. If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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